Lead singer Jericka Millsap, left, and Matt Kampmeier, of the Kansas City-based heavy rock band Arya, entertain fans Aug. 29 during the band's first show in Topeka at The Boobie Trap Bar, 1417 S.W. 6th.

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Acting on an invitation from fellow musicians, the Kansas City-based heavy rock band Arya made its first appearance in Topeka recently at The Boobie Trap Bar, 1417 S.W. 6th.

“We had some friends (in the band Eleven After) invite us out to give it a shot,” lead vocalist Jericka Millsap said. “I would love to be here again.”

Arya was formed three years ago when screamer Matt Kampmeier approached guitarist Mike Dobbs about starting a new project.

“We had had a band previous to this that really fell through bad, and he (Dobbs) was done with it,” Kampmeier said. “So I kind of talked him into it one more time, and if it works, it works, we would keep doing it and give it a year, and so far, so good.”

After holding auditions for a female lead singer without finding the right person, the band turned to Millsap, Dobbs’ girlfriend then and now.

“When they came looking for singers, they knew I had a background in vocals, so they wanted my opinion,” Millsap said. “I asked if I could try out once, and it stuck from there.”

Other members of the band include guitarist John Maxwell, bass player Wayne King and drummer Sean Pflum, who help influence Arya’s heavy rock sound that is tinged with an edgy touch.

“It’s hard to judge it,” Kampmeier said of the band’s sound. “What I like to explain to people when they ask what kind of music is Arya, I call it the Diet Coke of metal, and it pretty much sums it up perfectly.”

Kampmeier said he started screaming six years ago and was hesitant to do it in a band, but decided that was what he wanted to do for Arya. Motivated by the fun of entertaining fans, he continues to put time and effort into the band.

“It’s really the fans, the energy from the crowd; it’s no joke,” Kampmeier said. “It doesn’t matter if you have three people in front of you or hundreds of people in front of you, if they enjoy you, you’re going to get that same feeling no matter what, and it’s just over the top sometimes.”

Millsap, who has been singing since she was 3, studied opera and wanted to be like her favorite band, Heart. She enjoys being the “mother” of Arya’s “family,” as well as engaging fans during shows.

“At the end of the day, when we look at it in hindsight, we’re still a family and we work it out one way or another,” she said. “We love playing with our fans and messing with them all the time. When they’re there and we see their faces and they’re happy seeing us do what we love to do, it makes the world of difference.”

The band has a single, “By a Thread,” available for download on ReverbNation, and currently is raising money to make an album this fall. It hopes to play again at The Boobie Trap later this year.

“If people want to look us up or check us out, you can go to our website — wearearya.com — or you can Google wearearya,” Kampmeier said.